I recently heard of a caregiver for someone I know with chronic illness being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. I started thinking about design options, and was drawn to do a cluster of monarch butterflies, such a lovely symbol of tenacity and rebirth.
¡Mariposa Monarcha!, a photo by Scott Clark on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, grant her and her family unexpected joys, hope, peace, strength, and faith for the journey.
“The most important thing you can do for your dream? Pray, pray, and pray some more.”
From my morning readings in “You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream”, by Holley Gerth.
DSC_8457, a photo by caddy_corner on Flickr.
I have a tendency to think about my dream, plan for my dream, work on my dream, but to forget to pray. Father, help us to remember to pray!
The initial inspiration for this piece was seeing Romanji, my little black cat, silhouetted against a window with stained glass privacy film. Romanji is black with the occasional white hair peeking through.
I liked the idea that he cat should not be totally black, and added a variegated black-to-grey fiber into the flat DMC black thread to get this effect.
Reaching – fur highlights, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of free will. Help me to make choices that bring me further into the light, and turn away from the dark.
I chose a rustic wood frame to give the piece warmth.
Valley of Shadow – Framed, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, I hold them up to You for the rest of their lives.
“How much better to leave tracks in time that tell of lending a helping hand, lifting someone’s load a little, bringing a bit of love and laughter into someone’s dark day.”
From my morning readings in “Outdoor Moments with God”, by W. Phillip Keller.
snow swirls, a photo by paul+photos=moody on Flickr.
And what joy to bring beauty into the world! Thank you, Father, for giving us creativity and aesthetics!
And here it is completely stitched!
Valley of Shadow – Stitched!, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, I pray that You stay with them and grant them peace and healing without end.
“Keep going.
Keep believing.
Keep pursuing the God who never stops pursuing you.”
From my morning readings in “You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream”, by Holley Gerth.
Rushing to Sing, a photo by Andrew Stawarz on Flickr.
Keep following that dream, that voice, that gives us joy and purpose!
For me, the cat represents me and my sinful nature, yearning for the peace, love, and healing that only God’s love can provide. Those claws are not out. Faith directs my tentative reaching.
Reaching – Cat, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, I know that only Your love can save me. Thank You for sending Your Spirit to guide me in my life choices.
I blended two threads of variegated fiber with four solid DMC cotton fibers to make the fibers for the sky. This will liven the sky up and make it look more real and interesting.
Valley of Shadow – Sky Fibers, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, let Your light shine into the valley and bring them hope.
“The need of the artist and the needs of the community are crucial to the creative process.”
– From my morning readings in “Scribbling in the Sand – Christ and Creativity” by Michael Card.
Bournbrook Recreation Ground, Selly Oak – new graffiti street art, a photo by ell brown on Flickr.
Art can’t be something created in a vacuum. It is best when it relates to needs we see around us and within us.
NeedlePrayer 